Downhole flow communication-stimulating apparatuses, systems, and methods

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a downhole tool. The downhole tool is conveyable through a wellbore string, extending into a subterranean formation. The wellbore string includes a downhole flow control apparatus, the downhole flow control apparatus including a shearable closure member. The downhole tool is co-operable with the downhole flow control apparatus such that, while the downhole tool is being conveyed downhole within the wellbore string, the downhole tool shears the closure member, with effect that flow communication is established between the wellbore string and the subterranean formation.

1 . A downhole tool, conveyable through a wellbore string, extending into a subterranean formation, the wellbore string including a downhole flow control apparatus, the downhole flow control apparatus including a shearable closure member, wherein the downhole tool is co-operable with the downhole flow control apparatus such that, while the downhole tool is being conveyed downhole within the wellbore string, the downhole tool shears the closure member, with effect that flow communication is established between the wellbore string and the subterranean formation. 
     
     
         2 . The downhole tool as claimed in  claim 1 ; wherein: 
 the downhole tool includes a cutter; and   the downhole tool is co-operable with the flow control apparatus, such that, while the downhole tool is being conveyed downhole within the wellbore string, the cutter is displaceable relative to the flow control apparatus for effectuating emplacement of the cutter for the shearing of the closure member.   
     
     
         3 . The downhole tool as claimed in  claim 2 ; wherein:
 the displacement of the cutter, relative to the flow control apparatus, for effectuating emplacement of the cutter for the shearing of the shearable closure member, includes displacement of the cutter in a laterally outward direction, relative to a central axis of the downhole tool.   
     
     
         4 . The downhole tool as claimed in  claim 2 ; wherein:
 the cutter is biased towards emplacement for the shearing of the shearable closure member, such that the displacement of the cutter is motivated by the bias.   
     
     
         5 . The downhole tool as claimed in  claim 4 ; wherein:
 the downhole tool defines a tool profile co-operable with a flow communication-stimulating profile of the flow control apparatus, such that, while the downhole tool is being conveyed downhole within the wellbore string, in response to registration of the tool profile with the flow communication-stimulating profile, the displacement of the cutter, relative to the flow control apparatus, for effectuating the emplacement of the cutter for the shearing of the shearable closure member, is motivated by the bias.   
     
     
         6 . The downhole tool as claimed in  claim 5 ; wherein:
 the downhole tool includes an elastically deformable portion;   the elastically deformable portion and the cutter are co-operatively configured such that the cutter is displaceable with the elastically deformable portion; and   the bias, motivating the displacement of the cutter, includes a bias motivating displacement of the elastically deformable portion.   
     
     
         7 . The downhole tool as clamed in  claim 1 ; wherein;
 the downhole tool defines a tool profile and includes a cutter;   the downhole tool is further co-operable with the downhole flow control apparatus for effectuating a profile-stimulated interaction; and   the profile-stimulated interaction includes, in sequence, (i) a registration of the tool profile with a flow communication-stimulating profile, (ii) in response to the registration, a displacement of the cutter in a laterally outward direction, relative to a central axis of the downhole tool, and (iii) a conveyance of the downhole tool through the housing passage in a downhole direction, with effect that the shearing of the closure member by the cutter is effectuated.   
     
     
         8 . The downhole tool as claimed in  claim 7 ; wherein:
 the displacement of the cutter, in a laterally outward direction, is motivated by the bias.   
     
     
         9 . The downhole tool as claimed in  claim 8 ; wherein:
 the downhole tool includes an elastically deformable portion;   the elastically deformable portion and the cutter are co-operatively configured such that the cutter is displaceable with the elastically deformable portion; and   the bias, motivating the displacement of the cutter, includes a bias motivating displacement of the elastically deformable portion.   
     
     
         10 . The downhole tool as claimed in  claim 1 ; wherein:
 the downhole tool is further co-operable with the apparatus such that conveyance of the downhole tool through the housing passage is with effect that, after the shearing of the closure member, the downhole tool becomes retained within the wellbore.   
     
     
         11 . The downhole tool as claimed in  claim 10 ; wherein;
 the downhole tool defines a tool profile and includes a cutter;   the downhole tool is further co-operable with the downhole flow control apparatus for effectuating, in sequence, a profile-stimulated interaction and a retention-effectuating interaction;   the profile-stimulated interaction includes, in sequence, (i) a registration of the tool profile with a flow communication-stimulating profile of the flow control apparatus, (ii) in response to the registration, a displacement of the cutter in a laterally outward direction, relative to a central axis of the downhole tool, and (iii) a conveyance of the downhole tool through the housing passage in a downhole direction, with effect that the shearing of the closure member by the cutter is effectuated; and   the retention-effectuating interaction includes, in sequence, (i) a registration of the tool profile with the non-release profile of the flow control apparatus, (ii) in response to the registration, a displacement of a retainable portion of the downhole tool in a laterally outward direction, relative to a central axis of the downhole tool, and (iii) a conveyance of the downhole tool through the housing passage in a downhole direction, with effect that the retainable portion becomes disposed in abutting engagement with the opposing surface of the non-release profile, such that the retention of the downhole tool, relative to the flow control apparatus is established.   
     
     
         12 . A downhole flow control apparatus for emplacement downhole as part of a wellbore string extending into a subterranean formation, comprising:
 a shearable closure member; wherein: 
 the shearable closure member is shearable by a downhole tool being conveyed downhole within the wellbore string, with effect that flow communication is established between the wellbore string and the subterranean formation. 
   
     
     
         13 . The downhole flow control apparatus as claimed in  claim 12 ; further comprising:
 a flow communication-stimulating profile configured for receiving a downhole tool, being conveyed downhole through the wellbore string, in response to a lateral displacement of the downhole tool, relative to a longitudinal axis of the wellbore string, such that the downhole tool becomes disposed for shearing the shearable closure member in response to axial displacement of the downhole tool through the wellbore string.   
     
     
         14 . The downhole flow control apparatus as claimed in  claim 13 ; further comprising:
 a non-release profile for retaining the downhole tool; wherein: 
 the shearable closure member and the non-release profile are co-operable with the downhole tool being conveyed through the wellbore string, such that, while the downhole tool is being conveyed downhole through the wellbore string, the downhole tool, in sequence: (i) shears the shearable closure member, and (ii) becomes retained to the non-release profile. 
   
     
     
         15 . A downhole flow control apparatus for emplacement downhole as part of a wellbore string extending into a subterranean formation, comprising:
 a housing, defining a housing passage;   a shearable closure configuration; wherein: 
 the shearable closure configuration and the housing passage being co-operatively configured such that, in response to shearing of the shearable closure configuration, flow communication is established between the housing passage and the environment external to the via a flow communication configuration, defined by at least one flow communicator; 
 for each one of the at least one flow communicator, independently, the establishment of the flow communicator is responsive to shearing of a respective closure member configuration of the shearable closure configuration, such that the shearable closure configuration is defined by at least one closure member configuration; and 
 for each one of the at least one closure member configuration, independently, the closure member configuration is defined by a respective at least one closure member, such that, for each one of the at least one flow communicator, the shearing of a respective closure member configuration of the shearable closure configuration, to which the establishment of the flow communicator is responsive, is defined by the shearing of the respective at least one closure member of the respective closure member configuration. 
   
     
     
         16 . The downhole flow control apparatus as claimed in  claim 15 ; wherein:
 the at least one closure member configuration is a plurality of closure member configurations; and   the plurality of closure member configurations are axially spaced apart relative to one another.   
     
     
         17 . The downhole flow control apparatus as claimed in  claim 16 ; wherein:
 the plurality of closure member configurations are axially spaced apart relative to one another by a minimum spacing distance of at least five (5) feet.   
     
     
         18 . The downhole flow control apparatus as claimed in  claim 15 ; wherein:
 the housing defines a flow communication-stimulating profile configuration, the flow communication-stimulating profile configuration is defined by at least one flow communication-stimulating profile, each one of the at least one flow communication-stimulating profile, independently, being configured for receiving a downhole tool, being conveyed downhole through the wellbore string passage, in response to a lateral displacement of the downhole tool, relative to a longitudinal axis of the wellbore string passage, such that the downhole tool becomes disposed for shearing of a respective at least one closure member configuration of the shearable closure configuration in response to axial displacement of the downhole tool, relative to the wellbore, and, for each one of the at least one flow communication-stimulating profile, independently, the shearing of the respective at least one closure member configuration, by the downhole tool received by the flow communication-stimulating profile, establishes, for each one of the respective at least one closure member configuration, independently, a respective one of the at least one flow communicator of the flow communicator configuration.   
     
     
         19 . The downhole flow control apparatus as claimed in  claim 18 ; wherein:
 for each one of the at least one flow communication-stimulating profile, independently, the respective at least one closure member configuration is defined within the flow communication-stimulating profile.   
     
     
         20 . The downhole flow control apparatus as claimed in  claim 18 ; wherein:
 each one of the at least one flow communication-stimulating profile, independently, is defined by a respective recess defined within the housing.